Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Xu Yanmiao had never expected that the old emperor would have so little confidence in him.

A relaxed smile appeared on the young man’s face.

“To be a local governor, one must understand how to encourage agriculture, balance taxes, conduct proper levies, maintain respect in ceremonies, ensure fairness in justice, promote filial piety, care for the elderly and orphans, and cultivate talent.”

A governor must encourage agriculture; this is one of the key requirements for the position. But if one doesn’t even know when to plant crops, how can they encourage farmers to work?

The Prince Consort’s chest heaved a few times, his eyes reddening, feeling utterly humiliated.

These trivial matters could easily be handled by a subordinate familiar with farming; why should he, as the governor, need to know such things? The emperor was just making things difficult for him because of his daughter!

Once again, the young man’s eyes narrowed, and his voice was light:

“Moreover, Your Majesty believes that mulberry, jujube, persimmon, and cotton are vital to the livelihood of the people. In fact, in the fourth year of the TianTong reign, in the first month, it was decreed that all mulberry and jujube trees planted after the first year of TianTong would be exempt from taxes. This clearly demonstrates Your Majesty’s concern for agriculture. You want to be an official but don’t even understand imperial orders, nor have you explored the emperor’s preferences. How can you still believe you’re a victim of fate?”

He didn’t stop at just speaking; he also silently complained:

[Talent, like pregnancy, can’t be hidden.]

The old emperor really liked Xu Yanmiao’s sharp tongue!

He threw a look at the head eunuch who was accompanying him, who immediately took note: when they returned to the palace, the emperor should reward this person!

The old emperor looked at Xu Yanmiao with growing satisfaction and breathed a sigh of relief.

He had overthought it. No matter what, Xu Yanmiao was an official in the Ministry of Personnel, responsible for issuing documents. He should be fully aware of the policies in his hands, whether they were new orders or old ones being reorganized.

Relaxing, he unconsciously let his guard down.

“Xu Yanmiao, go ahead, pick a region and tell him when to plant mulberry, jujube, persimmon, and cotton.”

Xu Yanmiao: “…”

Old Emperor: smiles

Xu Yanmiao: “…”

Old Emperor: starts to look confused

Could it be… he doesn’t know either?

The old emperor mentally slapped himself: Told you not to talk too much!

The next moment, Xu Yanmiao calmly said, “January, March, May, July.”

The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue: “Huh?”

Couldn’t be… didn’t he remember that it was…

At the same time, the Prince Consort also looked at Xu Yanmiao with suspicion: “Is it really like that?”

Although he didn’t understand the farming calendar, those dates just sounded odd.

“What’s the problem?”

Xu Yanmiao’s question flowed smoothly.

And without any hesitation:

[Well, well, even though I don’t know when to plant mulberry, jujube, persimmon, and cotton, the Prince Consort doesn’t know either! As long as I can fool him, that’s all that matters.]

Others: “…”

So, you were just talking nonsense.

Seeing Xu Yanmiao so confident, the Prince Consort began to doubt himself.

Could it really be like that? Have I been ignorant all this time?

Xu Yanmiao remained calm, giving a slight nod.

That’s right, you’ve been ignorant all along!

He wasn’t afraid of being exposed. After all—

[No way, no way, no official would really dare to contradict the emperor and say I’m wrong, right?]

The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue: “…”

He had already stepped forward and made a big bow, an exaggerated gesture that left no room for pretending nothing had happened.

But, no worries.

The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue didn’t hesitate for a moment and raised his voice: “Your Majesty! I believe that the Prince Consort hasn’t even mastered the farming calendar, yet he shamelessly blames the princess for delaying him. This is… utterly shameless! To accuse the princess in this way, I believe the Prince Consort must be severely punished!”

The Prince Consort swallowed a few breaths of air, looking at the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue with an itchy jaw, feeling inexplicably angry.

What did I do to offend you? Why are you so eager to step on me?

With the old emperor’s nod, the guards rushed forward and forced the Prince Consort to kneel on the ground. The old emperor, suppressing his impatience, turned to Princess Wanshou: “What do you think?”

This was the final chance.

The old emperor thought, if this daughter still stubbornly wants to plead for Liu Yi, he would lock them up together, making them a couple.

Princess Wanshou was silent for a moment, then gently closed her eyes and said, “The Prince Consort has wronged me. Please, Father, take charge.”

The old emperor laughed loudly.

Liu Yi turned pale, horrified, and nearly blurted out: “Princess, you—didn’t you always like me?”

Princess Wanshou sneered, suddenly feeling it was absurd.

So this person knew that she liked him. As Xu Yanmiao had said, he was taking advantage of her affection without any restraint.

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